In a tragic incident, a man armed with a knife broke into the residence of a young mother and fatally stabbed her while she was sleeping with her husband and their three-month-old infant, according to court proceedings.
The accused, Daniel Sean James, aged 46, allegedly carried out the attack on 24-year-old Kirandeep Kaur at her home in Hayes, located in west London, on the morning of July 12. Following the stabbing, James purportedly leaped out of a window, fracturing both of his ankles, before being apprehended by law enforcement officers in the vicinity, as disclosed at the Old Bailey.
Prior to the assault, James was reportedly seen walking through a playing field in Hayes dressed entirely in black and brandishing a large knife. Surveillance footage and doorbell cameras captured his presence at three different residences before he allegedly approached a man in his twenties from behind on the street and stabbed him.
Shortly thereafter, at approximately 7:51 am, James allegedly forcibly entered the home shared by Mrs. Kaur, her husband, and their infant, as they were asleep. The husband was awakened by his wife’s screams and saw a figure leaving the bedroom, as outlined by prosecutor Charlene Sumnall.
Within two minutes, James exited the property through a window in the kitchen-living room area on Uxbridge Road. Despite sustaining dual ankle injuries, he purportedly attempted to flee but collapsed after a short distance.
According to court testimony, it took approximately 24 minutes from the initial sighting of the suspect until police arrived at the scene. Tragically, Mrs. Kaur succumbed to a chest stab wound and was pronounced deceased at 8:26 am.
The court was informed that the victims had no prior connection to the defendant, who received medical treatment before being placed under arrest. Subsequently, James was charged with the murder of Mrs. Kaur, attempted murder, and possession of a bladed weapon.
James, residing at Mercer Place in Pinner, west London, made a virtual appearance in Court One of the Old Bailey from Wormwood Scrubs on Thursday. Judge Nigel Lickley KC scheduled a plea hearing for October 1 and tentatively set a three-week trial to commence on April 5 the following year.
During the court proceedings, James only confirmed his identity and was remanded into custody.
